Apparatus and method for storing and reusing remnants of soap

ABSTRACT

A soap-saving apparatus ( 10, 110 ) for storing and reusing remnants of soap is disclosed. The soap-saving apparatus ( 10, 110 ) comprises first and second surfaces ( 14, 16 ) for receiving remnants of soap, and at least one through-hole ( 18 ) connecting the first and second surfaces ( 14, 16 ). Soap remnants can be pressed on to the first and second surfaces ( 14, 16 ) and adhered to each other through the through-hole ( 18 ). A rim ( 22, 122 ) further helps to retain the soap in place, and dimples ( 20 ) on the first and second surfaces ( 14, 16 ) help to prevent the soap sliding from side to side in its early stages of adherence.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for storing and reusing remnants of soap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a bar of soap is used, it gradually becomes smaller and smaller until it is too small for practical use as it can no longer be easily grasped. It may even break into a number of such small pieces. These remnants of soap are generally discarded as they are difficult to use. This is a problem because the unused remnants soap are wasted.

The present invention seeks to overcome these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for storing and reusing remnants of soap, comprising:

-   -   first and second surfaces for receiving remnants of soap; and     -   at least one through-hole connecting the first and second         surfaces.

The advantage of this invention is that the apparatus provides a convenient means for reusing remnants of soap which have become too small for practical use, thereby reducing waste of unused soap remnants. The through-hole allows the soap remnants on the first and second surfaces to adhere to each other, thereby helping to form the soap remnants and apparatus into a single unit, and thereby holding the soap in place on the apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a rim along an edge of the first and/or second surfaces.

This helps to hold the soap in place when pressing or moulding the remnants onto the apparatus.

The rim may have an inner surface substantially perpendicular to the first and/or second surfaces.

An inner surface of the rim may be recessed.

Advantageously, this helps to secure soap remnants to the apparatus.

Preferably, the rim has a convex outer surface.

This makes the apparatus more comfortable to handle.

Preferably, the first and/or second surface further comprises one or more dimples and/or protrusions.

These help to prevent the soap sliding from side to slide on the first and second surfaces.

Preferably, the first and second surfaces are provided by opposing surfaces of a substantially sheet-like body.

Preferably, the body is substantially circular or oval.

With this configuration, the soap remnants can be built up on the apparatus to form a solid shape similar to that of a conventional bar of soap, so that it can conveniently be used in the same way as a normal bar or soap.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for storing and reusing remnants of soap, comprising:

-   -   providing a body comprising at least one through-hole;     -   pressing at least one first remnant of soap onto a first surface         of a body; and     -   pressing at least one second remnant of soap onto a second         surface of a body;     -   such that the first and second soap remnants adhere to each         other through the through-hole.

The method may further comprise soaking the first and/or second soap remnants prior to pressing onto the body.

This makes the soap remnants easier to press and mould onto the body.

The method may further comprise adhering further remnants of soap to the first and/or second remnants of soap.

The method may further comprise moulding the adhered remnants of soap so that the adhered soap remnants resemble a bar of soap.

The body may be an apparatus as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a soap-saving apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the soap-saving apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a shows an end view of the soap-saving apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 3 b shows an enlargement of the encircled portion of FIG. 3 a labelled “A”; and

FIGS. 4 to 6 show corresponding views of a soap-saving apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a soap-saving apparatus or soap-saver 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The soap-saver 10 comprises a flat body 12 having a first surface 14 and a second surface 16 for receiving remnants of soap. Two through-holes 18 connect the first and second surfaces 14, 16.

As a remnant of soap becomes too small to be of practical use, it can be soaked overnight and moulded into the soap-saver 10. Initially, three or four slithers may be needed to start off the soap-saver 10, but then more remnants of soap can be added as required. Once the soap has been moulded and formed onto the soap-saver 10, it can be allowed to dry and be used as a normal bar of soap would be used.

More soap can be added as and when required. The soap-saver 10 allows for remnants of soap to build up to a useful practical size for continual use. There is no limit to the number of soap remnants that can be added as the soap naturally reduces in size with use.

The through-holes 18 take advantage of soap's natural propensity to adhere to itself on either side of the soap-saver 10. This locks the soap remnants firmly to the soap-saver 10. A suitable diameter for the through-holes 18 is 2.5 cm, although different sizes and non-circular shapes may be used.

The first and second surfaces 14, 16 of the soap-saver 10 are dimpled, the dimples 20 giving a degree of stability and helping to prevent the soap sliding from side to side in its early stages of adherence to the soap-saver 10. In a different embodiment, the surfaces may include protrusions instead of or in addition to dimples.

The soap-saver 10 also comprises a rim 22 around the edge of the first and second surfaces 14, 16. This rim 22 has an inner surface 24 substantially perpendicular to the first and/or second surfaces 14, 16, and a smoothly curved, convex outer surface 26. Thus the rim 22 creates an angled edge which also helps retain the soap in place.

In this embodiment, the flat body 12 has an oval shape typical of the cross-section of a conventional bar of soap. As shown in FIG. 2, the flat oval body 12 may have an overall length and breadth of about 8 cm by 5 cm. Therefore, as soap is built up on the soap-saver 10, it gradually resembles a conventional bar of soap, having a size and shape which is convenient to handle. However, different shapes are possible.

The soap-saver 10 can be made from various different material, but plastic is preferable in order to manufacture the soap-saver cost-effectively and to provide flexibility of design shape and the use of different colour finishes.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of a soap-saving apparatus 110 according to the present invention, in which features corresponding to those of the first embodiment described above are labelled with the same numbers. In the second embodiment, the soap-saver 110 has a rim 122 which has a recessed inner surface 124. The recess 125 helps soap remnants to be secured to the soap-saver 110. However, a non-recessed rim may be preferable for ease of manufacture.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for storing and reusing remnants of soap according to the present invention comprises: providing a body 12 comprising at least one through-hole 18; pressing at least one remnant of soap onto a first surface 14 of the body 12; and pressing at least one remnant of soap onto a second surface 14 of the body 12, such that the soap remnants adhere to each other through the through-hole 18.

In order to facilitate pressing, moulding and adhesion of the soap remnants on to the body 12, the soap may first be soaked in water. The soap may be then be left to dry.

Further remnants of soap can be added, by adhering them to the soap already held by the soap-saver 10. As the amount of soap on the soap-saver 10 increases, the soap may be moulded into the shape of a bar of soap.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus for storing and reusing remnants of soap, comprising: first and second surfaces for receiving remnants of soap; and at least one through-hole connecting the first and second surfaces.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rim along an edge of the first and/or second surfaces.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rim has an inner surface substantially perpendicular to the first and/or second surfaces.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an inner surface of the rim is recessed.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rim has a convex outer surface.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second surface further comprises one or more dimples and/or protrusions.
 7. An apparatus according to any claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces are provided by opposing surfaces of a substantially sheet-like body.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the body is substantially circular or oval.
 9. A method for storing and reusing remnants of soap, comprising: providing a body comprising at least one through-hole; pressing at least one first remnant of soap onto a first surface of the body; and pressing at least one second remnant of soap onto a second surface of the body, such that the first and second soap remnants adhere to each other through the through-hole.
 10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising: soaking the first and/or second soap remnants prior to pressing, onto the body.
 11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising: adhering further remnants of soap to the first and/or second remnants of soap,
 12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising: moulding the adhered remnants of soap so that the adhered soap remnants resemble a bar of soap.
 13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the body is an apparatus according to claim
 1. 14. (canceled)
 15. (canceled) 